Illinois Budget 12.26.08

Friday

Dec 26, 2008 at 12:01 AMDec 26, 2008 at 5:47 PM

Illinois Budget 12.26.08

Here are the top Illinois stories coming today from GateHouse News Service. Stories are available at www.gatehousenewsservice.com. Please check www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/news in the evening for changes to story lineup, including breaking news.

If your paper has a story, digest item, opinion piece or standalone photo to share, please e-mail it to Illinois@gatehousemedia.com.

INTERACTIVE HOLIDAY GREETINGS: See how the State Journal-Register created an interactive holiday greeting opportunity for its readers.
http://ghnewsroom.com/article/springfield-offers-holiday-greeting-interactive-experience

TODAY’S SPOTLIGHT

A ‘curious’ cameo for a man from New Orleans

PEORIA – After gifts have been unwrapped and stomachs have been stuffed, it's not uncommon for families to flock to the movies on Christmas Day.But the Andersons of Cuba made the ambitious hourlong drive to Peoria not because they ran out of egg nog and conversation, but because family member Brian Anderson scored a small role in "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," which was filmed in his now-hometown of New Orleans. By Erin Wood of the Peoria Journal Star.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/x512364896

SPRINGFIELD – It's enough to make Frank Costanza proud. A special committee of House lawmakers has just spent several days "airing grievances" with Gov. Rod Blagojevich, not far from the tall, blue aluminum pole standing in the Capitol rotunda -- both part of the fictional Festivus holiday the character created on the popular 'Seinfeld' sitcom a decade ago. By Ryan Keith of the State Capitol bureau. For use Monday, Dec. 29.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/x946490862

Daily:

State Briefs. News from around the state.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/x1277298680

Museum backers want stimulus funds

PEORIA – Backers of a proposed museum in Peoria hope the federal economic stimulus plan includes $4 million to construct an underground parking garage for the downtown project. Within the $480 million of possible requests central Illinois will submit to the state for inclusion within a federal stimulus deal is money for the garage, which would only be constructed if the entire project happens. By John Sharp of the Peoria Journal Star.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/x946490941

ILLINOIS BUSINESS
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois_business

Food processors grow despite recession

ROCKFORD – Del Monte vegetables are bringing in the green. Wonder Bread is making the dough. Hamburger Helper is helping the economy. While other industries suffer during this recession, the Rock River Valley’s mix of food processers, packagers and distributors are actually doing well as cash-strapped consumers eat at home more often. The food-processing industry, which employs more than 2,500 people here, is even seen as a growth area. By Thomas V. Bona of the Rockford Register Star.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/x946490920

Lenders report boom in mortgage refinancing

SPRINGFIELD – Steve Hartman purchased his first home this month. Four days later, he refinanced the mortgage. Even as a just-released report showed Springfield-area home sales down nearly 36 percent in November compared to a year earlier, lenders report a boom in refinancing thanks to the lowest interest rates in decades. By Tim Landis of the State Journal-Register.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/x1277298698

Gift cards lessen post-holiday returns

SPRINGFIELD – Some businesses say they no longer anticipate a post-Christmas rush of returns and exchanges of unwanted holiday presents due in part to the popularity of gift-card giving. With gift cards, people can be their own “Santas.” By Tamara Browning of the State Journal-Register.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/x1277298695

Many happy returns: Stores ready for different kind of rush

ROCKFORD – Now that the rush for Christmas gifts is done, stores are preparing for a whole new slew of traffic from holiday returns. Although the National Retail Federation’s 2008 holiday returns survey stated 65.2 percent of gift recipients did not return any gifts last year, stores still are adjusting their return policies to be more accommodating to gift returnees. By Sean F. Driscoll of the Rockford Register Star.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/news/business/x16588317

ROCKFORD – Denise Nanni seeks the nutrition information for food when she dines out. It’s one step in her plan to stay healthy after being diagnosed as diabetic 14 years ago. More restaurants nationally are providing nutrition information either at the restaurants or online, said Mike Donohue, vice president of media relations for the National Restaurant Association. The problem lies in that individual states, counties and cities have passed different rules for calculating and posting the information. Legislation was introduced in Chicago, for instance, but not enacted. By Melissa Westphal of the Rockford Register Star.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/lifestyle/food/x1060488140

Brothers serving in Iraq grateful for holiday together

PEORIA – For some, Christmas memories center around a tree, presents and a large meal. For a Trivoli family, Christmas will now involve memories of two brothers playing football in Iraq. By Andy Kravetz of the Peoria Journal Star.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/x1737132711

BEST OF 2008: Will Pfeifer takes a look at the best DVDs of the year. http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/entertainment/dvds_cds/x1737132599

A few days ago we found out whether we had been bad or good. This week we’ll resolve to be better. Time marches on.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/opinions/columnists/barry_wood/x1060488021

Elizabeth Davies: These resolutions will stick

I’m not even trying to lose weight for the New Year this time around. Never mind that I’m waddling into 2009 about eight months pregnant, so weight loss is pretty much an intangible dream right now. The reality is, I’ve lived through New Year’s resolutions long enough to know that wanting to lose 10 pounds in January isn’t the same as actually doing it.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/opinions/columnists/elizabeth_davies/x1737132611

Editorial: The legacy of Mark Felt's bold secret

Without the help of Mark Felt, one of this nation's great political scandals might have ended quite differently. But despite conflicted loyalties and unknowable pressures, Felt took a stand on behalf of truth, accountability and the law. An editorial from the Peoria Journal Star.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/opinions/editorials/x1369588938

Sunday Quick Shots: By Matt Trowbridge of the Rockford Register Star. Will be posted Saturday evening for use Sunday.

ILLINI:

For Sunday: ILL-E.Michigan preview, preview capsule. By John Supinie. Will be posted Saturday evening.

For Monday: ILL-E.Michigan game story and report card. By John Supinie.

BEARS:

Slaton, Johnson have Texans headed in right direction

LAKE FOREST – Ahman Green was supposed to save Houston’s ground game. When the $23-million free agent was hurt his first year, the Texans signed former 1,000-yard rusher Chris Brown as insurance. But rookie Steve Slaton turned out to be the key to the best rushing attack in Texans history. By Matt Trowbridge of the Rockford Register Star.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/sports/pro/football/bears/x1737132705

Bears place veteran safety Brown on injured reserve

Mike Brown’s surprising string of good health — and perhaps his Bears career — came to an end Friday when Chicago placed the veteran safety on injured reserve with a calf injury. By Matt Trowbridge of the Rockford Register Star.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/sports/pro/football/bears/x946490925

Bears-Texans preview. By Matt Trowbridge of the Rockford Register Star. Will be posted this evening for use Sunday.